Management Services
Daylesford BNB Management Services Holiday Property Management Services We take care of end to end holiday property management so owners can enjoy their investment and guests have an awesome holiday, [...]
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We came across this article in the Financial Review yesterday that discusses Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ proposal to introduce a statewide levy on short-stay accommodations, particularly targeting platforms like Airbnb.
“Andrews making Airbnb owners a ‘convenient scapegoat’” – Andrews suggests that this levy, possibly as high as 7.5 percent, could free up around 40,000 homes for longer-term rental in Victoria. This proposal comes as an alternative after the premier abandoned a plan for rent caps.
Airbnb Australia supports the concept of a levy but argues that 7.5 percent is too high and could negatively impact tourism and everyday Victorians. They recommend a rate between 3-5 percent, which aligns more with international policies. Additionally, Airbnb is advocating for a uniform statewide levy rather than a patchwork of different regulations.
Critics, including real estate experts and industry figures, argue that Andrews’ assertion that Airbnb hosts are preventing properties from being available for long-term rentals is misguided. They point out that many hosts use Airbnb for personal use, part-time rental, or to help others in need, rather than for tourism exclusively. Some believe that the government’s plans are discouraging property investors, with a notable percentage leaving the market.
It presents an interesting clash between government policy and the sharing economy, specifically Airbnb. Premier Daniel Andrews’ proposal to introduce a significant levy on short-stay accommodations raises valid concerns on both sides of the argument.
On one hand, there’s a desire to address the ongoing issue of housing availability, especially in areas where short-term rentals are prevalent. The idea that such rentals might be taking potential long-term homes off the market is a genuine concern for many. However, the proposed 7.5 percent levy seems disproportionately high, potentially discouraging hosts and affecting tourism.
Airbnb’s argument for a lower, uniform statewide levy and its assertion that many hosts use the platform for personal or charitable reasons rather than purely for profit make sense. It underscores the complexity of this issue. It’s not merely about hosts profiteering from short-term rentals but about the various ways people use these platforms, which can include helping others in need or using their properties part-time.
The debate also highlights a broader issue in government policymaking, where it’s essential to strike a balance between addressing societal concerns and ensuring economic stability. While addressing housing availability is critical, there must be a fair and sustainable way to achieve this without unduly burdening property owners or negatively impacting tourism.
Ultimately, finding a middle ground that accommodates the interests of both property owners and those seeking long-term rentals is crucial. A thoughtful, well-balanced policy that takes into account the nuances of the sharing economy can potentially lead to a more equitable solution for all parties involved.
The owner booking fee that we charge serves to cover the costs associated with maintaining and optimizing your property listings and generating bookings. It’s important to clarify these reasons to our property owners so they understand the rationale behind the fee. Here’s a breakdown of the key reasons why we charge an owner booking fee.
By explaining these reasons we hope that property owners can understand that the owner booking fee is not just an additional charge, but a way to support the comprehensive services we offer to maximize their bookings and revenue while covering the costs associated with those efforts.
Co-hosting is a service offered by Daylesford bnb where a property owner can hire us as a trusted professional to help with managing their Airbnb listing. We love to work together with a busy Airbnb host to manage the property, increase the number of bookings and revenue and making improvements to the overall management of the property and guests. In our co-hosting service we help you select and set up a property management system that will increase occupancy and revenue while reducing complexity and effort. We help with the heavy lifting and bulk of the effort, provide advice and options based on your situation and support you to be a great host - Our primary Co-host service uses Guesty software but we can also help you get set up on any PMS or channel manager that might suit you better.
To add a co-host on your Airbnb Account, go to your Airbnb account and click on "Manage Listings". Select the listing you would like to manage and click on "Co-Hosts" in the left menu. From there, you can invite someone to become a co-host by entering their email address or inviting them through Facebook. When you choose us as a co-host you do not need to add us as a co-host, we will work with you to set up a property management tool where your listing will be connected and synchronised with other platforms, You will retain full access and control of all of your listings including your Airbnb Account.
The responsibilities of an Airbnb co-host is determined by the listing owner - You can ask a co-host to do as many or as little as you may need. Generally co-hosts help with tasks like communicating with guests, managing reservations, dealing with Airbnb support, coordinating check-ins and check-outs, scheduling cleaning service, processing guest payments on behalf of the host, and to message guests when they have a question or need information about their booking.
If you enter into an Airbnb co-host agreement the cost may vary depending on the size of the property and the responsibilities involved. Generally Co hosts charge between 15 and 30% of your net revenue, which is often around 10-15% of the accommodation fee. We believe hosts and co-hosts need to negotiate a co-host agreement that suits their partnership best. It is best to discuss the details and fees with the potential co-host before making a final decision. We offer a co-host agreement with the primary host on a fix term basis for our "Best ever co host" service, however we also have commission arrangements with some owners where that is what suits them best.
Yes, a co-host hired for an Airbnb property can help with managing the rental business outside of Airbnb, such as listing on other platforms or managing direct reservations. However, it is important to specify the scope of their responsibilities in the agreement with the primary host. Our Co-hosts help Airbnb listing owners get listed on other channels and reduce complexity with an easy to use property management system
When hiring a co-host, look for someone who has experience with Airbnb or property management, has good communication skills, is reliable, and shares your values and goals for the property. You should also check their references and reviews from previous clients. You can view our reviews on our home page.
Hosts and co-hosts work together to manage the listing and ensure a positive guest experience. The "primary host" or account holder is ultimately responsible for the listing, setting the price, and making the final decisions while the co-host helps implement the strategy and procedures in line with the owners wishes. The airbnb website has a Co-Host additional terms of service that the primary host should be aware of, Our professional co-host services run through a property management system that ensures all your listings calendars, pricing and guest communication is synchronised and adjusted appropriately for each platform, while ensuring visibility over all the areas of their business that they need. As a professional management company we are available to airbnb home owners via phone 7am to 7pm 7 days.
It is important to have a written agreement with your co-host that outlines their responsibilities, compensation, and other terms of the relationship. You should also include clauses related to confidentiality, liability, and termination of the agreement. There are many co-host agreement templates available on the internet - If you are going to take on a co-host and enter into a contract you should seek legal advice - however you can find template agreements at The contract company and also via Lodgify Airbnb Co-Host Agreement: Free Template for Vacation Rental Owners
It depends on the laws and regulations of your state and jurisdiction, and also how your listings are set up. In some cases, you may need to provide taxpayer information for your co-host if they are classified as an independent contractor or if you are paying them for their services. Where a property owner have requested, we collect guest fees on their behalf, we retain the portion for our management or cohost fee and pay-out the difference, in this scenario we provide an invoice for our services and statement that breaks downs the funds held paid out and retained. Where a short-term rental owner collects the guests fees and payouts directly, we send an invoice for payment with our ABN and collect fees via direct debit or credit card.
Yes, co-hosts can help with managing the arrival and departure of guests, such as arranging key exchanges and providing directions to the property.
Hostaway is a premier property management software platform tailored for short-term rental hosts and property managers. With its extensive range of tools and features, Hostaway streamlines and automates multiple aspects of vacation rental management, encompassing reservations, bookings, guest communication, channel management, and more. By harnessing the power of Hostaway, we can provide our clients with a smooth and cost-effective property management experience. This robust platform empowers us and property owners to save time, enhance service quality, maximize revenue, and instill confidence that their properties are being expertly handled. With Hostaway, we deliver exceptional results and peace of mind to our valued clients.
Twilight Airbnb Photography or night-time photos for your holiday rental can be a great way to showcase the ambiance and mood of your Airbnb property. The best time for taking these types of photos is during what's known as the "golden hour," which is the period of time just after sunset or just before sunrise when the sky has a warm, golden glow.
For night-time photos, the best time is usually about an hour after sunset, when the sky is still visible but the ambient light has faded enough to show off the property's interior lighting. The exact time will depend on your location and the time of year, so it's important to research the sunset time in your area and plan accordingly.
When embarking on twilight Airbnb photography, it's important to use a tripod to keep the camera steady and avoid blur. You should also use a slow shutter speed to capture as much light as possible, but be careful not to overexpose the image or create too much noise.
It's important to keep in mind that not all properties are suitable for twilight or night-time photos, and you should consider whether your property has adequate outdoor or indoor lighting to showcase in the photos. Additionally, if you're using a professional photographer to take the photos of your airbnb, they will likely have their own recommendations and expertise when it comes to capturing the perfect twilight or night-time shot for your Airbnb listing.
The window for capturing twilight Airbnb photographs is rather short, with just a few minutes available to take the perfect shot. Timing is crucial, as the striking orange glow of the sky only lasts for approximately 10 minutes. Missing this narrow timeframe can result in losing the opportunity to capture the ideal shot. It's important to also monitor the weather forecast, as clear skies are optimal for achieving the desired effect.
While you can try at sunrise and also sunset on the same day its interesting to know and consider that Sunrise and sunset lighting are different in terms of color temperature and intensity. During sunrise, the light is cooler, with a bluish tint, while during sunset, the light is warmer, with an orange or reddish tint. The sunlight is also more intense during sunrise, as the sun is lower on the horizon, while during sunset, the light is softer and more diffused. These differences can affect the mood and atmosphere of your photos, and it's important to consider them when planning your photography sessions.
Turn Lights On at the property to Sufficiently Light the details you want clear or highlighted in your image - external lights on a property may not be sufficient so it may be worth trailing the use of other lighting sources such as a flash or continuous lighting sources. You may even need multiple light sources because natural light during a twilight there may not be enough light to show off details on or around the home evenly across the composition. Additional lighting sources can also help remove reduce and soften shadows in your twilight Airbnb photography.
Nice to haves that you can maybe get away without or use alternatives
To achieve the best twilight Airbnb photography results it's recommended to manually adjust your camera settings, rather than relying on auto settings. A starting aperture value between F8 and F11 provides a reasonably good level of detail between the foreground and background of the image - while ISO 800 is a good starting point for ISO while increasing the light sensitivity without reduce the image quality too much (cheaper cameras may need to use a lower ISO (closer to 100) if image quality degrades too much at 800. These provide a starting point to help adjust your exposure triangle -
Did you ever wonder why you can never get an amazing shot like this one from Sunset Ridge no matter how many shots you take?
Well those impressive twilight shots are not always captured in camera alone and they almost never are created with just one photo!
All your Airbnb photography shots, even ones captured by a professional photographer, will need some adjustment in post production to fix or tune colour temperature, reduce or increase shadows & highlights and to correct any exposure or contrast issues. The same is true of twilight photography although some extra steps are needed.
To create an impressive twilight photo, a photographer will usually take multiple shots of the property's exterior at different exposures being sure to balance the exterior and interior lighting of the property and then merge them together using editing software. By combining multiple flash exposures, different lighting composition, a sky replacement, some clever blending and layering techniques the result is a well-lit image that showcases all the details of the property in a beautiful and eye-catching image
how does that even make sense and how can you paint with a torch? Ok, here is a fun thing to try adapted from - Tata Rossi 8 TWILIGHT REAL ESTATE PHOTOS TIPS: EASY GUIDE
It might take a bit of practice to achieve it, but its a fun exercise and even something fun to do with your kids.
When it comes to vacation rental listings, the photos are one of the most critical elements for attracting potential guests. As the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words", and in the case of vacation rentals, Airbnb Photography and Staging are the key to getting images that create the best first impression that potential guests will have of your property.
Here are our top tips plus some extra information about photography for short term holiday accommodation photos.
By taking the time to stage and style the space, and using high-quality photos that are well-edited, you can help to make your listing stand out from the competition and attract more bookings. When guests are searching for vacation rentals, they will be scrolling through numerous listings, and the photos are often the first thing they will notice. By using high-quality photos that are well-lit, sharp, and show the property in the best possible light, you can grab their attention and make them want to learn more about your property.
In addition, using high-quality photos that accurately represent your property and highlight its best features can help to ensure that guests have a great experience during their stay. If your photos accurately depict your property and its amenities, guests will have a clear understanding of what they can expect when they arrive. This can help to manage their expectations and ensure that they are satisfied with their stay.
Finally, high-quality photos can also help potential guests to visualize their stay at your property, which can increase their likelihood of booking. If they can see themselves enjoying the space and amenities, they will be more likely to book a stay. For these reasons, taking the time to create and submit high-quality photos for your vacation rental listing is essential for attracting more bookings and ensuring that guests have a great experience during their stay.
Setting Up Before the Photoshoot and Staging the House:
Editing the Images:
Airbnb has a number of tips, recommendations & guidelines for publishing photos of your listing on Airbnb
It's also worth noting that Airbnb has specific requirements for the first photo of the listing, which should be a high-quality image of the exterior of the property or a key room, like the living room or bedroom. This photo should be the main image that guests see when browsing listings, so it's important to choose a photo that accurately represents the property and showcases its best features.
Recommended and Minimum requirements for photos on booking.com
Booking.com also provides the following guidelines for taking and submitting photos for your listing:
Booking.com recommends that hosts regularly update their listing photos to reflect any changes or updates to the property.
For VRBO and Stayz, the photo requirements for listings are as follows:
VRBO and Stayz recommend that hosts use high-quality photos that are well-lit and showcase the best features of their property. Here are some additional tips for taking and submitting photos for your listing:
VRBO and Stayz also recommend that hosts update their listing photos after any changes or updates to the property.
